US1626236A - Means and method of elevating fluids - Google Patents

Description

April 26 1927.

c. o. HASKE LL MEANS AND METHOD OF ELEVA TING FLUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11. 1925 a Z x 5 10 H W k w April 26, 1927.

c. o. HASKELL I MEANS AND METHOD OF ELEVATING FLUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed may 11. 1925 6 INVENTOR: CZarka's 0.]i2z6ldl, BY

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

CHARLES 0. HASKELL, OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

MEANS AND METHOD OF ELEVATI'NG FLUIDS.

Application filed May 11, 1925. Serial No. 29,520.

This invention relates to means and method of elevating fluids. In particular the invention is adaptable for use in well practice, whether it be water or oil wells, and the invention is adapted to do away with pumping rods of all forms, which rapidly wear out and are unsatisfactory in many particulars. Where a well is pumped by means of pump rods, and if the well must be pumped from a considerable depth, it is very seldom that the casing is exactly true, with the result that the pump rods strike one side of the casing and then the other side and rapidly wear the pump rods, necessitating their replacement within a short time. When it. is necessary to replace pump rods, the well must be shut down, and usually five or six days are consumed while new pump rods are being inserted in the well hole. How serious a matter this may be can be realized when it is considered that the average well may produce, say, five hundred barrels of oil a day, and if the well is shut down for six days the production of three thousand barrels of oil has been lost. This amounts to a great deal during 'the year, as high as thirty-six thousand barrels of oil. This loss of oil of course affects market conditions, and therefore an object of the present invention is to do away with ordinary pumping rods and provide a system which positively elevates the liquid, whether it be oil or water, from any depth in an economical manner. The system and means about to be described has been thoroughly tried out by the inventor and works in a highly satisfactory manner.

The invention has for further objects the provision of an improved system and means for elevating. fluids which is superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness.-taken in conjunction with utility, durability and general efiiciency and service: ability.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a system and means which cannot be sanded so as to stop its operation.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and. useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, as well as a method of use, all as shown in certain of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, described generally and more particularly pointed out in claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation showing pump means used in'practicing the invention, 'with connections with such pump means and casing and tubing within a well hole;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, and showing certain of the devices used in practicing Fi ure 5 1s a .view .similar to Figure 4,

showlng further details of the invention;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of certain means used in practicing the invention, which means is shown in Fi ure 5, Figure 7 being on an enlarged sca e from the showing of said Figure 5.

Corresponding parts in all the fig'ures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, the improved means for elevating fluids is designated as an entirety and in one embodimentby A, of which a is a pump, 6 an air compressor, and means designated generally as c acting in conjunction'with the devices a and b for elevating fluid, all of which devices are used in practicing one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 Ihave illustrated a well bore 1 having a casing 2 within such bore, and which casing is associated with a casinghead d at the mouth of such well bore 1. Also concentric within the casing 2 is a delivery tube 3 which is likewise carried by the casing head d. The.tubing 3 has a connection with piping 4, which through the medium of a T 5 is associated with the pump ai and beyond the T such piping may lead to a sump, not shown. and likewise said piping has included in its length a stop cock 6. This stop cock is adapted to regulate the rate of flow of any fluid such as oil past the stop cock to the sump. It is also to be notedi th'at the portion of thepipe 4 that leads, to the sump is inclined downwardly as shown in Figure 1. The T 5 permits communication 'both with the pump a and I with piping 7 leading from such pump and for conducting fluid to storage tanks, not shown; and such piping 7 has included in its length a stop cock 8. Piping 9 communicates with the pump a and with tubing 10 passed within the well hole and concentrically spaced from and within the tubing 3. The connection within the pump a is suclrthat fluid drawn through the piping 4 will be conducted in part within the pump a,- through the piping 7, and likewise under pressure through the piping 9 and down the tubing 10. Also piping 11 is in connection with the air compressor 1) with such piping connected to piping 12 concentric within the tubing 10. The fluid elevating means 0 in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, includes a device 13 which comprises two annularly cupped members 14 and 15, received one within the other and slightly'spaced apart, as shown at 16, the member 14 being provided with a central annular flange 17 which is screw-threaded internally as shown at 18 for screw-threaded connection with the lower end of the piping 12. The member 15 is provided with an annular flange 19 depending from the base of such member 15 and which flange is screw-threaded for engagement with the member 20 which is annular in formation, and which member 20 is provided at its periphery with two or more radial flanges or wings 21 which are adapted to bear against the inner surface of a portion of the tubing 3, as shown at 22 to hold-the jet means in operative position and against wabbling and which are slidable in tube 3 to vary the position of member 15' relative to member 14 for controlling the size of the-jet nozzle formed between the mouths of the cupped members. Also, the annular member 20 acts as a spreader and 'providesa relatively constricted passage between itself and the tube 10 which assists in distributing to the fluid jet means, the fluid induced into the chamber 20. The lowermost end of the tubing 3 carries a valve 23 which is spaced below the lowermost end of the member 20 and forms within said tube a receiving chamber 20. The said valve includes a valve seat member 24 centrally bored as shown ,at 25 and formed with a tapered valve seat 26, and a ball or similar means 27 is adapted to normally rest on the tapered valve seat; Between the tubing 3 and the tubing 10, is a spacer This particular spacer acts to hmit upward movement of. not annular in formation. itdoes not limit the flow mightbe passed upwardly ing 3. The said means e venting the sanding up, of

In other" words through the tubis used f01' prethe means a and fore describing the modified means 6 and is of any fluid that neeaase the said means e includes a member having a sleeve or annular portlon 29 adapted for sliding engagement on the periphery of the tubing 10, and. a flaredor hollow conical portion 30 integrally formed with the an- 'nular portion 29, the extremity of which flared. or'hollow conical portion 30 is provided with an inner annular flange 31 and an outwardly projecting annular flange 32 the members 14 and 15 gradually diminishes in width from the central portion of such members to the rim of said members. The flanged extremity of the means eis adapted to rest when in one position over the device 13, it being noted that the flange 31 will close entrance within the annular cup of the member 14 and that the flange 32 would close-the spacing between the members 14 and 15 with such flange likewise projecting beyond the periphery of the member 15. It is to be notedthat the rim of the member 14 is below the rim of the member 15, hence the reason for inclining the flange 32. There is also another reason for inclining the flange 32 which will appear in the state ment of the operation.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, will now be described bcforms. Assuming the pump a in operation and the compressor b likewise in operation with the said means a down in, say oil-bearing strata, that is to say, oil is within the casing l and around a portion at least will be pumped through the tube 9 down the tube 10 by the pump a under pressure, and the mouth 33 of such tube 10 terminates just above and likewise within the annular cup of the member 14 with the result that oil under pressure forced down the tube 10, has its direction of flow changed upon striklng the member 14'to cause the oil to flow upwardly within the annular space between the tubings 10 and 3. While this is occurring compressed air is being forced at'high Velocity through thetubing 12 and through the spare 16 between the members-14 and 15. The result will be that the means 6 will be lifted upwardly by the combined pressure of the oil and the air, the air striking the inclined flange, and a vacuum or.at least a reduced pressure will be caused in the region of the member 13 and in the receiving chamber 20 with the result that any oil between the easing 1 and the tubing 3will rush through the opening 25 in the valve 23 and lift the ball 27 from its seat. It is possible with this system to balance the column of oil flowing upwardly in the annular space between the tubings 3 and .10 so that no oil will be drawn I through and past the valve 23. This can of the tubing 3, oil

be done by regulating the pump a and compressor b. It is'possible to get such a balance that the pump a and the compressor 1) just keep the fluid, such as, oil, flowing down through the tubing 10 and upwardly between the tubes 10 and 3 and through piping 4 communicating, with such annular space between such tubings and into the pump. reached it is evident that the slightest increase in the rate of flow or in ,the flow;

of the compressed air will immediately cause the valve 23 to open and permit any fluid suchas oil within the casing to flow past the valve and up with the moving fluidibeingpumped. This 031 drawn past the valve" oftentimes contains sand and the heavier oil Wlll pass through the pipe 4 through the T 5 and into the pump a, hence into the pipe 7 to a reservoir,v he discharge of such surplus i oil being regulated by the stop cock 8. while that portion of the surplus oil which. contains sand being heavier, will be directed-to the oil sump, the stop cock 6' in such pipe leading to the oil sump being regulatedso.

as to cause a' back pressure on the flowing oil. This method will effectively take care of the sand int'th'e oil and help to remove such sand from the oil. hen the pump a and the compressor 1) have stopped opera tion, the pressure against the means e is immediately relieved and the same will drop and cover the means 0 with the result that the heavy column of oil, which weighs -a considerable amount, will remain Within the tubing 3 being held within such tube by the valve 23, andfany sand in such column of oil would naturally settle toward the bot-- tom. The means 6,

sanding up .of the device '13 so that the moment the-pump a and the compressor b and as a consequence the commence operation the sand that has settled is immediately displaced from its position, sanding up of the device is impossible of accomplishment. It is evident from the device ust described that I have provided a combined liquid pressure lift and air lift.

In Fig. 1 I have shown at 34 an annular member 35 attached to theiinner surface of the casing 2 and just above the zone of the means a and e, the said member 35 being provided with a beveled face 36 which 5' inclined. The tubing?) also carries an an:

nular member 37 provided with a beveled .face 38 which is adapted to cooperate with the beveled face 36\of-the member 35. Con- 'nected to the annular member 37 are rods" 39 and 40 and which rods extend upwardly to the surface of the well. -It is intended thatnthe two members 37 and 35 should so cooperate as to seal the annular Spee eristing between the casing 2 and the tubing 3. This construction will prevent 011 within the casing from passing upwardly into the Vhen such a nice balance has been I however, prevents the opening 46 annular space between the casing 2 and the tubing 3 and will not provide any outlet for oil except past the valve 23. The tubing 3 might be cut off above the members 35 and '37 and not extend upwardly to the casing head (I. A pipe 4 would then communicate with the interior of the casing 2 only, and

any oil lifted past the means 0 would be remember 15 is used. The other elements re-' 7 mean the same and the means 0 in place of having the two flanges 31 and 32 has a ,portion of its extremity bent inwardly as shown at 41 so to it within a portion of the member lti. as before and in the application of the form of the device shown in Figure 4 oil or other fluid is pumped by the pump a down the tubing 10,- and- .has its direction of flow changed'by thejm'ember' 1 so as to cause the oil to flo'w; i '1pwardly within the tubing The forl'rifbf the device shown in Figure 5 includes the elements just shown for Figure 4 and in" addition has a slightly modified form of air lift. The air compressor 1) wouldrbe the same as before and the pipe 12 would be received in the annular space be tween the' casing 2 and the tubing 3, as

shown at 42. The tubing 3 would not terminateadjacent the valve 23, as is the case of that form of the device shown in Figure 2, but would extend slightly below the base of such valve 23." The inner surface of the tubing3 adjacent its lowermost mopth is internally screw-threaded as shown at 43,

- and screw-threaded upon such threads is a member 44. This member is annular in form, transverse openings 45. The pipe-12 has a portion thereof fitted within the annular of such member 44, and carried by the top of such member 44 and in direct c0mmumcation with the annular opening is -a-.;va1ve47 gwhichincludes a valve cage 48 secured to the-member 44, as shown at 49 and a ball 50- se'at ed within said cage. In the use of the device shown in Figure?) oil tobe lifted would flow through the openings of the member '44 and past the valve Air under pressure would lift the ball and tendto produce an airlift in any oil passed through the openings 4:) and likewise past the valve 23.

The valve is the same and provided with a plurality of The operation,-it will be seen, will be practically the same as that shown for the device in Figure 2. The ball 50 prevents a sanding up of the air lift pipe.

The space between the valve 23 and the member 44 provides an air chamber, with the result that practically no increased velocity of oil through the tube to lift the column of oil within the tube 3, is required when the compressor is in operation and forcing air past the valve 47 and into the said air chamber. v

In Figure 7, I have shown on an enlarged scale means for sealing off the space between .the casing 2 and the tubing 3, and likewise providing a ready means for supporting a section of such tubing 3 where itdoes not extend the entire length of the casing 2 to the casing head d. This service is designated as g and does not differ essentially from the form shown in Figure 1 at and 37.-

In this case, however, an annular wedgeshaped member 51 is secured to the tubing 3 and secured to the pipe.12 is an annular wedge-shaped member 52 formed of sections with packing means 53 between certain of the sections. Other rod or rods 54 are likewise passed through and secured to the wedge-shaped member 52 so that when the I two' wedge-shaped members 51 and 52 cooperate a section of the tubing3 may be securely held. in a definite location within the casing 2. The. means 9 also effectively seals the space between the casing 2 and the tubing 3, so that any -oil within such space and below such means in order to escape would have to move upwardly past' the valve 23 into the column of moving fluid so that the oil would be lifted'to the surface.

It is obvious thatvarious changes and modifications may be made in carrying out various features of the invention, in departure from the particular showing ofthe drawings, without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Havin thus disclosed my invention, claim an desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. An apparatus of the class described including a delivery tube, fluid jet means disposed withinthe said tube, and means actuated by the pressure of fluid issuing from' the jet to prevent the discharge orifice of said fluid jet means from becoming fouled.

2. An apparatus of the class described including a delivery tube, fluid jet meansdisposed within the said tube, automatically shiftable means mountedv within the delivery tube and actuated by the pressure of fluid issuing from the jet to prevent the discharge orifice of said fluid jet means from becoming fouled.

3. An apparatus of the class described includinga delivery tube, a tube withinthe delivery tube for supplying fluid under presmamas ing a relatively constricted passage between its outer side and the tube, a portion of a fluid jet carried by said member, and a tube for supplying fluid under pressure into said jet member.

5. An apparatus of the class described including a delivery tube, a valve seat member mounted in the tube, a valve cooperat ing with said seat, a cylindrical member spaced from the sides of the tube and disposed above said valve and providing a relatively constricted passage between its outer side and the tube, a portion of a fluid jet carried by. said member, and a tube for supplying fluid under pressure into said jet member. i

6. An apparatus of the class described ineluding a delivery tube having a substantially closed valved end and fluid jet means spaced from said end to provide areceiving chamber, said jet means comprising cu shaped members arranged one within t e other and spaced apart, means for supplying fluid into the inner'cup whereby its impingement thereagainst will change the direction of flow of the fluid, and means for supplying I fluid under pressure into. the space between said members and whereby the direction of flow thereof is changed thereby producing a vacuum in the receiving chamber to open said valve.

' 7. Means of the character disclosed, including means for conducting a'fluid to a given zone, and. means at such zone for changingthe path of movement of any fluid soconducted, said last named means comprising an annular cupped member; there being a second annular cup member below the first cup member and spaced therefrom, and means for discharging fluid under pressure 'into said second cup thereby providing a piston for lifting the first mentioned fluid. 8. Means of the character disclosed, ineluding means for conducting a fluid to a given zone, and means at such zone for "changing the path'of movement of any fluid so conducted, said last named means comthe cup whereby a piston for lifting the first mentioned fluid is provided. I

9; Apump of the class described including a delivery tube, fluid jet means located within said tube and comprising cup members arranged one within the other and spaced apart, a pipe for supplying fluid under pressure connected with the inner cup and adapted to discharge between said cups, the outer cup being adjustably mounted in said tube for movement toward and away from the inner cup whereby a nozzle is formed between said cups at the mouth.

thereof, the adjustable cup being adapted to vary the size of the nozzle, and means for supporting said adjustable cup within the tube.

10. A pump of the class described including a delivery tube, fluid jet means located within said tube and comprising cup members arranged one within the other and spaced apart, a pipe for supplying fluid under pressure connected with the inner cup and adapted to discharge between said cups, the outer cup being adjustably mounted in said tube for movement toward and away from the inner cup whereby a nozzle is formed between said cups at the mouth thereof, the adjustable cup being adapted to vary the size of the nozzle, and means for supporting said adjustable cup within the tu e, said means comprising tube engaging wings whereby the adjustable cup is held by friction within the tube.

11. A pump of the class described including a delivery tube, fluid jet means located within said tube and comprising cup members arranged one within the other and spaced apart, a pipe for supplying fluid under pressureconnected with the inner cup and adapted to discharge between said cups, the outer cup being adjustably mounted in said tube for movement toward and away from the inner cup whereby a nozzle is formed between said cups at the mouth thereof, the adjustable-cup being adapted to vary the size of the nozzle, means for supporting said adjustable cup within the tube,

a pipe for discharging fluid into the inner cup whereby the impingement of the fluid against the cup operates to change the direction of How of the fluid, the fluid jet operat ing as a iston for lifting the fluid discharged w1thin the inner cup.

cups, a

ing a delivery tube, fluid jet means located within said tube and adapted to discharge 12. A pump of the upwardly therein to provide lifting means for elevating the liquid to be pumped, and means for closing said jet means to protect it against sanding, said protecting means being automatically opened on the ejection of fluid through said jet means.

14. A pump of the class described including a delivery tube having a substantially closed valved end, fluid jet means spaced from said valved end to form a receiving chamber, said jet means comprising two cupshaped members arranged one within the other and spaced apart, a compressed air pipe discharging into the space between said fluid supply pipe discharging into the inner cup whereby the compressed air operates to lift the fluid. so supplied, said jet means forming a vacuum in the receiving chamber whereby the valve is opened to ermit the inlet of the fluid to be lifte or pumped.

15. A pump of the class-described including a delivery tube. having a substantially closed valved end, fluid jet means spaced from said valved end to form a receiving chamber, said jet means comprising two cupshaped members arranged one within the other and spaced apart, a compressed air pipe discharging into the space between said cups, a fluid supply pipe discharging into the inner cup whereby the compressed air' operates to lift the fluid so supplied, said jet name to this s ecification.

(l HARLES O. HASKELL.

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